System for draining land areas through the use of a venturi apparatus from a permeable catch basin

ABSTRACT

A principal catch basin defining a certain storage capacity, the catch basin situated below the level of the ground, having an upper level opening for receiving surface water drainage thereunto, and having side walls partially constructed of permeable geotextile fabric for allowing water flow into the permeable basin to serve as a collection for sub-surface drainage. The system would include the ability to automatically pump the drainage water out using the energy of a pressurized water system in conjunction with a venturi pump without the need of any electrical sensors or signals. In addition, there may be a plurality of collection basins which could be joined together as a system to pump the water from various locations through one transport line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of provisional patent # U.S. 61/271,237, filed Jul. 20, 2009.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,568 Apr. 24, 1990 Hurley

U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,235 Jan. 29, 1991 Hurley

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to drainage for land areas. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for draining land areas, such as golf courses, farms and homes, through the collection of water into a principal catch basin, and pumping the drainage water out using the energy of a nearby water line to drive a venturi. The venturi will be controlled with the operation of a float and a hydraulic valve so that there will not be any need for any electrical source to drive the pump or operate the controls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of drainage. More particularly, the present invention is in the particular area of seepage drainage and the removal of water by pumping, or a means other than gravitational drainage flow. The most common method to drain water that has been collected from seepage or surface flow is to grade pipe to a lower point. However, in many cases, particularly lands that are near sea level or very flat property, there is no open airspace (for the water to flow) that is lower than the water being collected, or if there is, it is such a long distance away that the installation of the drainage becomes impractical. The alternatives to gravitational drainage currently consist of either siphoning the water to the nearest relief point Hurley U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,568, or pumping the water to the nearest relief point. A siphon is typically used when there is a lower airspace available, but it is a long distance away. It can be less expensive to siphon the water to the relief point than to take the water there by running pipe on grade. If there is no lower airspace, the only option is to pump the water out of the area. The installation of the pump requires electricity in some form to run the pump. The cost of running this electricity or setting up a solar charged battery bank can be prohibitively expensive for a small area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention uses the energy of a nearby water system to drive a pump to collect seepage water from a permeable basin, Hurley U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,235, using the energy of a nearby water line or pressurized irrigation system. The energy of the water system would suck drainage water through a venturi and be operated with a float and hydraulic valve, thus, allowing one to pump water from a basin without the need of electricity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pumping device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pumping device placed in a permeable basin of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pumping device and the permeable basin in the ground collecting ground water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1

Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1, water comes from a water source through a pipe 14 to a gate valve 1. This is connected to the rest of the system by a union 2. The water flows through a normally closed hydraulic valve 3. This valve can be taken out by removing the union 4 and 2. The water next flows through a venturi 5. Drainage water enters the venturi 5 through the uptake pipe 6. A check valve 7 keeps water from flowing back into the basin when the pump is off. The uptake pipe is connected to the venturi 5 by a union 8 for easy servicing. An adapter 9 connects the discharge line. A rigid pipe 12 is affixed to the sidewall and connects the hydraulic tubing from the valve 3 to the float 11. The float opens and closes a bleed-off valve 10. Both the source water from 14 and the drainage water entering through the uptake pipe 6 combine and go out through the discharge pipe 15.

FIG. 2

Referring to the invention in more detail, FIG. 2 represents the apparatus described in FIG. 1 placed in a permeable basin 16 that collects ground water 20 through the sidewalls of the basin and seepage line 18. It also collects surface water through solid line 19.

FIG. 3

This represents the invention in the ground. The apparatus in FIG. 1 is placed in the basin 16 in FIG. 2. The basin 16 is placed in the ground 21, and collects ground water 20. The apparatus in FIG. 1 pumps the ground water 20 out to pipe 22 at a higher elevation than what it was collected.

In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 1, water from any source with pressure, even city water pressure, is enough to operate the venturi. Water flows through a pipe 14 of any size. Gate valve 1 is placed outside of the main structure, so that if the main parts of the apparatus placed inside the basin must be serviced or replaced, the water can be off while the service work takes place. For smaller units, all piping and valves are smaller. For larger units that have the potential of a higher flow rate, larger pipes and valves can be used. Unions 2, 4, and 8 are all placed in the system to aid in the servicing of the unit from the surface. The water enters hydraulic valve 3. This hydraulic valve 3 is normally closed. It is held closed by the buildup of water from a diaphragm in valve 3 to valve 10, by way of a hydraulic tube 13. When water rises in the basin, and the float 11 raises, it opens valve 10, and the pressure bleeds off of valve 3, allowing it to open up and flow water through the venturi 5. As the source water flows through venturi 5, it creates a vacuum that sucks the water from the bottom of the basin. When all of the water has been removed, the float 11 returns to the down position, which closes valve 10. Once valve 10 is closed, the water that bleeds from valve 3 builds up pressure and closes the diaphragm causing the water flow to stop.

In further detail on FIG. 2, the apparatus in FIG. 1 is shown placed in a permeable basin 16. This permeable basin 16 collects seepage water and surface water. The seepage water enters through the geotextile bag 17, and the seepage drainage 18. The surface water enters through the grate on basin 16 and through the solid pipe 19, that may be connected to other drainage inlets.

In further detail on FIG. 3, it shows that the ground water 20 in the profile 21 is lowered by the process of the apparatus in the permeable basin 16 collecting water. This can be applied to water that is on flat properties, as the result of its closeness to a lake or an ocean, or it can be ground water that is moving through a profile from entering on the surface at a previous point. This would apply to areas such as hillside springs or saturated upper profiles, such as turf areas on golf courses and lawns.

In further detail on FIG. 1, the apparatus could be made of piping of any size. The limits on the pipe size would only be limited by the pressure of the source water. The lift that could be created would determine the maximum size of the basin. In situations where there was high pressure source water available, basins of depths of 30 feet could easily be built.

The apparatus could be made of any material, plastic or metal pipe.

The apparatus in FIG. 2 could be either permeable, or a solid walled basin, if the only objective was to collect surface water.

The advantages of the present invention includes the ability to pump water to a higher elevation without the need for electricity. Using the energy of nearby water systems, either city water or pressurized irrigation water, as is found on golf courses, one can pump drainage water without the need to run electrical service to the site or to run a battery bank. Using this, in combination with a permeable basin, allows one to collect deep seepage water inexpensively. It can be used on flat coastal properties or to collect water from deep hillside springs. Since the entire apparatus is serviceable from the surface with the removable unions, the parts can be installed, serviced, and replaced without getting down in the hole. This gives one the opportunity to build these units to great depths, such as 20 feet deep into the ground, to remove the moving ground water and stabilize hillsides without having to dig a gravity pipe for relief on the water that is collected at these depths. In comparison to a siphon, it has many advantages. A siphon is limited on coastal properties to only being able to drain to sea level. On these types of properties, multiple siphons are usually used to move water to one central pump site. Without the central pump site to create an airspace below sea level, the siphons are of limited use. In addition, each siphon site needs a new pipe that is airtight to connect the siphon basin to the relief. With this invention, the water can often be pumped to an existing pipe that was already in the ground. Even though that pipe may be above the elevation of the level at which it is now desired to collect the water, the old shallower pipe can be used because we are lifting the water with the apparatus.

In broad embodiment, the present invention uses the energy from a nearby water source to suck drainage water in ground applications without the need to use electrically operated components of any kind. There is no need for any electrical controllers or valves to turn the system on or off, or for any electrical pumps.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 

1. A method of pumping water using the energy of an existing water system in combination with a permeable basin to collect seepage and surface water, the system comprising: (a) providing a water collection basin having fluid permeable walls and a top portion, the basin positioned in the ground to the level of the top portion, for receiving above-ground or underground water flow into the basin and blocking the flow of solid material into the basin; (b) an apparatus consisting of a float, hydraulic valve, hydraulic tubing and a venturi to pump the collected water to a relief point using the flow of water from a nearby irrigation system or other system under pressure, such as a municipal water system;
 2. The method in claim 1 that uses a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to activate the flow of water through the venturi when water needs to be removed from the basin without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections.
 3. The method in claim 1 that uses a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to stop the flow of water through the venturi when there is no more water in the permeable basin, without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections.
 4. A subsurface water collection system, comprising: (a) One or more collection canisters, each having permeable side walls and a top portion, the basin positioned in the ground to the level of the top portion, for receiving above-ground or underground water flow into the basin and blocking the flow of solid material into the basin; (b) A flow line for transporting the water collected in the collection canister to a distant exit point; and (c) Means for interconnecting the collection canisters to the flow line for allowing water to flow from the collection canisters into the flow line for transport. (d) At least a second auxiliary basin connected to the flow line from the principal catch basin for establishing water flow from the auxiliary basin to the main transport line.
 5. The apparatus in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary catch basin further provides water and air permeable side portions for allowing sub-surface air and water flow thereinto.
 6. The apparatus in claim 4, further comprising a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to activate the flow of water through the venturi when water needs to be removed from the basin without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections.
 7. The apparatus in claim 4, further comprising a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to stop the flow of water through the venturi when water needs to be removed from the basin without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections. 